Courageous Dreamers Win

In this episode we are focusing on Stephanie Melish Neuman, Inspirational Speaker, Author, and Success Coach, who helps amazing people improve their life and their business while increasing their bank accounts. She is known as "The Sales Barista" and has helped many people on the path to success.

• Stephanie tells us what she does---she is a success coach helping people become the best version of themselves and help increase their bank accounts
• She talks about being a sounding board for individuals and getting "business therapy"
• Stephanie talks about how important it is to take care of your mental and physical health in order to be able to be the most effective business owner or leader
• She shares that in order to be the best version of yourself, you need to be your most authentic self
• Stephanie was a 'cliff-jumper' and shares with us how she left a job but that it was not her dream initially
• Her current entrepreneurial venture fell into her lap. She states that if you are not the best version of yourself, your business will not flourish
• Stephanie talks about preparing for her next phase in her life as MOM and hopes to help other moms who are also working or owning their business
• She talks about having a "Shrek" moment and how it is important to peel back the layers of yourself
• She states that fear is made up in our heads and how to get to the root cause of why you may be afraid to jump the cliff to live your dream of being your own boss and taking the leap

In this episode of Piece of the Pai, we are focusing on successful social media influencer and athlete, Asheton Brown, founder of her personal brand Smasheton. Asheton aims at empowering humans through movement. With over 27,000 followers on Instagram, Asheton is certainly an influencer.

• Asheton speaks about her background being completely different, by being a Political Science major and wanting to go to Law School
• She talks about always wanting to help other kids and empower others and that feeling starting at a young age
• She got back into running and athletics, but did not know that this passion would turn into her business
• An eating disorder blog kick-started her following and saw the impact it made on others so she wanted to continue to help other through her healthy lifestyle
• She talks about how hard it is to get sponsorships and how she organically grew
• Asheton states that she has created a niche as a runner and has been a big influencer in the running world
• She talks about how to be selective in picking sponsorships, which is Quality over Quantity
• How does she differentiate herself in a world where everybody wants to be an influencer
• She talks about the challenge of communicating her value to potential sponsors
• She talks about being her own agent and how she does everything herself but hopes to get to a day where she is just purely creative
• Her dream is to be a professional athlete
• She talks about the health challenges over the years she has had to overcome

In this episode we are focusing on David Yermanos, owner of Get Fit Foods, a new healthy lifestyle grab-and-go meals concept in Charlotte, NC. David is a serial entrepreneur and a GM with a high end entertainment concept and decided to start this venture when he could not find this meal prep niche being serviced in this manner.

Since 2003, David has been in the event promotions and marketing industry, working closely with Charlotte venues and international artists to bring the Latin American Festival to the city. He has been a GM and owner in the hospitality industry since 2011 and has successfully helped a multi-million dollar corporation grow in several markets.

IN THIS EPISODE

• David talks about how he came up with his healthy meals concept
• David talks about how important timing is in entering a market
• He states that the healthy food concept has not caught up with the healthy lifestyles and gyms that have been growing here
• He talks about why he chose the Ballantyne location as their initial grab and go location and discusses how the food is chef-driven and prepared fresh daily
• David notes that a business that caters to saving time and gives good nutrition is a great space to be in for a new business
• We talk about how David has a day job and started this "side hustle"
• David talks about how he didn't really have fear when starting this business because he was purpose-driven rather than money-driven
• David discusses the concept of growing within, in order to find your true passion in life
• He says that organized knowledge works and that is how one should approach a new business
• He talks about how important social media and customer service are

In this episode we are focusing on Trish Bennett, former Owner & Buyer of doll boutique and how she switched gears from the fashion industry into pet care and the importance of happiness as an entrepreneur. After spending 15 years in the insurance industry, Trish moved to Charlotte in March 2013 and opened Doll in Sept 2013. She owned and operated doll for 4 years and decided to pursue happiness with her passion for animals. She has now opened Three Amigos Pet Care - after spending many years of volunteering at humane societies in the US and Mexico, she realized her true passion and calling was in animal care.

In This Episode

• Trish talks about how she moved to Charlotte from D.C., from a corporate America job in the insurance industry and decided she wanted to make her hobby dream of fashion a reality
• She discusses how she jumped into building the boutique, even with fear, after a very calculated plan
• She talks about how she had no formal training in fashion buying or even business ownership
• Trish discusses how a business owner needs to adapt to the customer's needs as well as what is happening in the market place
• Trish talks about how she overcame challenges of the slow season of summer and how she managed to make it through
• She discusses what she liked least of owning a boutique
• Trish talks about how she did not come into owning the boutique with capital up front. She had to take out loans, and budget all the way through, including modestly decorating her store
• Trish dispels the rumors of why she closed her boutique, after owning it for four years
• She shares how she lost her desire for owning the store and how her real passion for animals allowed her to reinvent herself into a new business

In this episode we are focusing on successful entrepreneur, William Wilson, Founder and CEO of William Wilson Clothing and how he got started and overcame his fears of trying new things to become successful in his business. After serving eight and a half years in the US Navy, before becoming an award-winning celebrity clothing designer; William was on a pit crew for Ultra Motorsports, and was the first African-American to win a championship in the history of NASCAR.

Since then, he has become one of the most sought after clothing designers in America; as well as an accomplished public speaker and branding expert. William has designed looks for the red carpet at the Grammys, Oscars and Emmy Awards. He is the "Official Clothier for Charlotte Motor Speedway", and designs the Champion's Jackets for the Coca-Cola 600, Bank of America 500, Sprint All-Star Race, and designed the official member's jacket for the Speedway Club.

IN THIS EPISODE

• William talks about how he never even knew anything about fashion
• He talks about how he got started in fashion by way of the Navy, construction, and NASCAR
• He discusses how you should try things to see what works
• He mentions how he did not let his race affect him being the first African-American winning a NASCAR Championship
• He loved dressing in suits while in construction, and a homeowner asked him to help him dress
• After a while, William started charging people to capitalize from it
• He says he didn't know what he could not do, as he had no idea who his competition was in the clothing industry
• He talks about the fact that he did get a break by one celebrity, but that he still had to build a reputation outside of Charlotte
• William talks about how personal branding is important and why
• He tells you what differentiates him from all of the big clothiers
• Listen all the way to the end to hear what his advice is on becoming a successful entrepreneur